Rocky Balboa - IMDB Link

Well believe it or not I actually really liked this movie.  I was a huge fan of the original 4 films and not such a big fan of the 5th (and worst) film.  Sly makes up for that travesty here with a pretty good movie that will leave you cheering Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!

I will agree with some friends of mine that the movie took a while to get interesting, and that the training montage was way too short, otherwise I give this a very strong reccomendation for viewing.  Some characters from the first film return for small but interesting roles as well.  Enjoy!

See NetFlix Synopsis Below

Though long retired from boxing, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) returns to the ring for one last hurrah in this drama featuring the iconic action star. Now widowed, Rocky's settled into middle age running a deli. But the former champ misses the sparring life, and he's drawn back into the ring after suffering a personal tragedy. When he's offered a shot at the title, he'll have to go all out to prove he's still got what it takes.

p.s. He does not get a shot at the title, it is an exhibition fight.  The synopsis was inaccurate.

I give it 4 out of 5 Victorious Rocky Guys.

Miami Vice

I remember watching the TV show Miami Vice and I thought that Crockett and Tubbs had some personality.  Not so in the movie version.  I almost started to like Jamie Foxx as Tubbs, but not quite.  Colin Farrell, as Crockett, looked scruffy and walked around with a scowl all the time. 

The plot wasn't very interesting to me, however, I may have missed some of it because my nachos were more exciting than the movie.  That being said, by the time my nachos were gone, there was a little more action in the film and the last 1/2 hour made me feel like I didn't completely waste my time.

The Lake House

If you can overcome that hurdle, however, this is a really enjoyable movie.  It deals with the timing of relationships.  It makes you wonder if you'd met people at different times in your life, would you have a different spouse or friend than you have now?

An added bonus is that Keanu Reeves, who normally seems like a stiff and distracting version of the character he's playing, actually comes across as a sincere and normal person in this movie.  It's the first performance of his where I believed his character rather than just watched him act like his character.

I give it:

   and maybe another half smiley!

Superman Returns - IMDB Link

First of all the proper title of the film I am reviewing is Superman Returns: An IMAX 3D Experience.  I can sum up my experience in one word, WOW!  What an awesome, awesome movie.  The visuals were top-notch and this was by far the most crystal-clear theatrical film I have ever seen.  I can only assume that this IMAX film was filmed and projected in High Definition.  The 3D aspect of the film was limited to about 4 or 5 scenes, but were very, very cool and were spaced out enough that they did not distract from the overall film.

Brandon Routh emulates Superman, and in many ways Christopher Reeve as well. Having grown up watching all 4 original Superman movies in the theater I went into this one with guarded optimism and was rewarded with a fresh new look at a classic Superhero.  I was pleasantly surprised over and over during the film when plot twists and dialogue actually went different directions than I expected and kept me guessing.  Kate Bosworth puts in a good turn as a much more likeable Lois Lane.  While I loved the original films I always thought that Margot Kidder was kind of a hag and could not see what Superman would see in her.  Kate Bosworth is a real beauty and did a great job of picking up where the other films left off while re-inventing Lois Lane a bit for us.  James Marsden plays her new love interest, and does a commendable job as well, but I could not help thinking, "Hey isn't he Cyclops from X-men?", and "Hey you can't mix DC and Marvel Comics characters!".  Kevin Spacey also makes a suprisingly excellent Lex Luthor.

Overall I was blown away by this film both visually and emotionally.  I actually got choked up after Superman's first big rescue at the start of the film and several of the 3D scenes had me on the edge of my seat.  This was Awesome.  Hats off to Bryan Singer for another great job.  See it, and if you can, see it an IMAX theater, it is definitely worth the extra admission price.  I would suggest seeing a later show to cut down on the little kid audience factor as my viewing would have been even better without all the toddlers talking, crying and walking the aisles during the movie.

See Netflix Synopsis Below.

After a multiyear hiatus from Metropolis, Superman (played by Brandon Routh and Stephan Bender) returns to find a city that's managed to survive without him, an old flame (Kate Bosworth) who's moved on and an old enemy (Kevin Spacey) who wants him destroyed. Parker Posey, Eva Marie Saint, Peta Wilson and Marlon Brando (through the magic of archival footage) co-star in this long-awaited installment of the superhero saga.

I give it a very rare 5 out of 5 Superman smileys.